Conservative Groups to Boycott Ford

Nineteen conservative groups said Monday that they would reinstate a boycott of Ford Motor Co., contending that the automaker reneged on an agreement to stop supporting gay rights organizations.

The groups set up a website urging supporters not to buy Ford vehicles after the automaker said in December that it would continue running advertisements in gay publications. The American Family Assn., which is leading the latest effort, had called for a boycott of Ford last year but suspended it for six months at the request of some Ford dealers.

“Ford has the right to financially support homosexual groups promoting homosexual marriage, but at the same time consumers have a right not to purchase automobiles made by Ford,” American Family Assn. Chairman Donald Wildmon said.

Ford said it was “proud of its tradition of treating all with respect and we remain focused on what we do best, building and selling the most innovative cars and trucks worldwide.” Ford spokeswoman Kathleen Vokes declined to comment further.

In December, Ford said it would stop advertising its Jaguar and Land Rover luxury brands in gay publications to reduce marketing costs. But several gay rights groups raised concerns about the plan and met with the automaker, leading to Ford’s announcement that it would place corporate ads featuring all eight of its brands in gay publications.